AbbVie Celebrates Official Launch

AbbVie, a research-focused, specialty biopharmaceutical company that was spun off from Abbott, was officially launched on Jan. 2, 2013. The new company will employ approximately 21,000 people in more than 40 countries, according to AbbVie’s news release.

"Our commitment at AbbVie is to build on Abbott's 125-year heritage and address some of the world's most serious health issues," said Richard A. Gonzalez, AbbVie’s chairman of the board and chief executive officer, in the press release. "We intend AbbVie's enduring legacy to be one of finding treatments for patients with serious health care needs."